Puritanical indie types unsettled by how well Owl City’s “Fireflies” fits on the new Radio Disney Jams 12 should comfort themselves with the debut from this suitably fringe-dwelling New York combo. Like labelmates Passion Pit, Freelance Whales trick out their wistful, post–Postal Service electro-pop with just enough record-nerd insularity to fend off cred-endangering Justin Bieber fans.

That circumscribed vibe is most often the product of noodly string-band bits that, when contrasted with the caffeinated computer grooves, conjure an appealing frisson of down-home retro-futurism. In the lovely “Hannah,” you can’t really tell which came first, the banjo or the beat. The song kicks off with lines from sweet-voiced frontman Judah Dadone that suggest words might also keep Freelance Whales from the hearts and minds of Americas tweens: “Do me this solid if you would, pretty lady/Please grab your martini and meet me on the balcony.” But, hey, whatever it takes, right?

The Soft Pack | The Soft Pack This Los Angeles foursome first emerged in 2008 as the Muslims, a name they elected to change after they grew disgusted with and exhausted by all the ignorant — and often racist — bullshit that came out of people's mouths during shows/interviews/conversations.

Toro Y Moi | Causers Of This Toro y Moi's debut is a leap into a tactile æsthetic where surreal and sometimes unstable atmospheres lure listeners into simple, soulful songs.

Midlake | The Courage Of Others On this lovingly crafted follow-up, the men of Midlake have moved on to emulating the late-'60s/early-'70s British folk-rock scene.

Lionel Loueke | Mwaliko Benin-born, Paris-and-Berklee-educated guitarist Loueke knows how to cover a lot of ground and make it all sound of a piece.

Xiu Xiu | Dear God, I Hate Myself The reigning King of Discomfort, Jamie Stewart, and his new bandmate, Angela Seo (who took Cold Caveward–bound Caralee McElroy's place last year), recently released a video for this album's title track in which Seo forces herself to puke in front of the camera.

Hot Chip | One Life Stand Four albums into a career that appeared to begin as an art-school goof, Hot Chip look more likely than any of their peers to ascend one day to the intellectual electro-pop heights of Pet Shop Boys or Scritti Politti.

Taking up Arms As might be expected from a band who take their name from Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy, Arms Against a Sea appear conflicted on their debut full-length, The Martyr, the Culprit, the Price .

DEVO | SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY | July 01, 2010 Given the theory of de-evolution these Ohio brainiacs began expounding more than 30 years ago, it makes a sad kind of sense that Devo's first album since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps offers such a charmless, base-level version of the band's synth-addled new wave.